Miner_Pride

I wondered the same thing. Apparently there are 3 making all the decisions or overriding the others. There is some serious animosity happening... I posted the same thought on the local paper... How did this chairman get elected in the first place?

Has anyone been following this series of events going down between the new school board and essentially the entire school? students and parents flood the gym to ask about how coach wray was let go, as well as the AD and baseball coach? Players wearing "No Wray No Play". Seems a pretty volatile scene with parents talking if moving their kids elsewhere. Plenty of this has been front page news at Greene County World.com. The EG football program has made great strides from all those years if loosing and loosing. I hope this doesn't send it in a downward spiral.

I know we had some trouble in our area getting better teams to schedule Linton...3a wanted no part of a big loss to a little ol 1a school. I think the battles with Ritter in semi-states helped our state wide reputation, and the win at Sheridan back to back. Monrovia has been a good series too.

I truly let my parents, both teachers down! I get going and can't stop!!

I think I kinda feel how this was going to go down, but I don't recall any announcement spelling it out? Maybe the date for that hasn't arrived? maybe I missed it? Brief history: Linton for years has played in a couple football conferences with essentially the same teams. My dad founded the Tri-Country conference..which was when I was in school. Sullivan, Linton, Dugger, N.Daviess, N. Knox maybe N.Central not really crisp on the memory... after several years of not being in any conference, the Southwest 7 was formed in early 2000's...Linton, ND, NC, NK, Eastern Greene, Wood Memorial and Dugger. The Miners ran roughshod through that schedule most every year we were in it.. and eventually the desire to face better competition led to dropping Wood Memorial and Union (Dugger)..which made us ineligible to win any conference title. Essentially we dropped out.. and North Daviess followed suit soon after. I thing the Southwest because the Southwest 5 or 6... ND eventually re-joined. I think now it's just the Southwest Football Conference. ND, NK, EG, NC? Linton still plays long time rivals ND, NK and the fellow Greene Countyian EG Thunderbirds.. who have finally gotten themselves a solid program.... In the mean time Linton scheduled Monrovia, Southridge, North Vermillion, Providence.. got a couple games with Sheridan, Ritter, Still playing our core rival Sullivan Arrows as expected. THis year 4A Boonville has been added to replace Ritter. The schedule is undoubtedly tougher. Has this tougher schedule helped Linton reach higher levels? We went to semi-state several times falling short as well documented. We went to state game falling to a superior LCC team in 2015, and then ran the table in 2016 defeating Pioneer for the ultimate goal. In both 2015 and 2016 the schedule wasn't all that different from previous years...altho adding Monrovia provided in 2016 was the only game Linton was really challenged until the finale with Pioneer. North Vermillion and Linton had a couple tight games.. Speedway were both easy Miner ways but did give up a test with their speed. I guess for me... 2015 and 2016 schedules still had ND, NK, NC, Sull, EG, even Springs Valley and Tecumseh in 2015. I would love to have seen those 2 miner teams play the schedule we currently are playing. But we are coming off our first losing season since I believe 1996. There was such big talk about Linton being asked to join the realigned divisions of the WIC... and a lot of back n forth on the merits and demerits. I think it's obvious Linton is gonna stay 2A from here on out. This will make the Miners one of the smallest 2A in the tourney. So we know the climb is gonna be tough and likely always going to involve teams like Mater Dei from Evansville...Southridge (Altho they are pushed up to 3A now).. I've heard folks on both side lament the long drive to Clarksvlle Providence...and the hope that our schedule isn't going to turn into a 2 hour drive just to play games. I've also heard both sides of the rivalry opponents. I don't want to ever see Linton not play our long time rivals like North Knox. or North Daviess.. I don't think we'd ever not play Sullivan lol. It wasn't always Linton domination over the Warriors or Cougars. It's been a long time since those days---but every few years both ND and NK meet Linton and the pundits think it's gonna be a battle. .sometimes it was. But in my days of playing ND usually got the upper hand... and NK in the 70's were a very tough squad. Things can change. I like the banter between the towns.. the folks.. I don't want to lose that atmosphere. BY joining the WIC it would almost assure that we have a schedule of opponents new, and a loss of games dating back decades. We'd have Sullivan.. and re-add West Vigo... but add North and South Putnam, as well as Greencastle and Northview, The Knights were 10-1, Sullivan won 9, N Put 8 S Put was 6-7. In my youth Linton played Greencastle and Brazil... and played and beat Northview in '97 and '98 when the Knights were lucky to win 1 or 2 games in that whole 2 year span. We had West Vigo in the old days, but also from 2004 thru 2014, and it was a 2-2 series those first 4 meetings..dogfights--- but LInton won 6 of the next 7 then the Vikes dropped us. I don't know that we've ever played North Putnam.. but South Putman was one of the teams that beat us in a semi-state I believe in 1986. I don't necessarily think this schedule would be any more difficult that our current schedule... depending on who it worked with playing the other division... clearly the weaker side other than Edgewood and Indian Creek... Owen Valley didn't win a game, Cloverdale and Brown Country each with 2 wins...Cascade with 5, but three W's against the three previously listed... I like being in a conference.. I think it gets some recognition and coverage for the kids who excel. But I look at our schedule--- Southridge, Sullivan, Monrovia, NOrth Vermillion, and now 4A Boonville replacing Ritter) as our 1st 5 games....It's not a stretch to be 0-5. We got thru is 1-4 last year..but the losing took its toll on the young team trying to live up to the previous teams. We then had the run through our local rivalries, and lop-sidded wins over, ND, NK and revenge on Eastern Greene. All three of these schools and their fanbases were licking their chops at coming in to hammer the Miners, and all were sent back with a hearty L on their record. Course Providence ran all over us for a quarter before the team work up and played even for 3 quarters, but it was sure easy to see how that long bus ride and a rainy night affected things. Plus..Providence was pretty dang good! People said.. well.. we got got no business played ND or NK....beating them 52-6 42-6 etc... it's not making us any better. Well I disagree. You can always lose a game. We were 1-4 and in a little big of disarray. We needed an injection of confidence. We had beaten a North Vermillion team handily for our only win thus far--- and NV went to the class A state championship. Southridge was the 2A defending champs. Monrovia always a factor, Ritter has always been a factor as well...and we fell in overtime to perhaps not the best Raider team we'd seen. The Arrow were having their best seasons every in Sullivan. Our team had a handful of seniors., and by season's end...2 were injured..so the offense was total underclassmen, freshman were out there starting in key positions. Still in the end... Linton showed they could be dangerous... and against lesser quality teams they came out and dominated. They played well at times against the better teams, but in the end did not make the big plays. 2019's team with be loaded with a lot of seniors who have will have started 3 years... They've also had to endure the comments.. the comparisons... the diminished crowd turns out on the road..and worse yet at Roy WIlliams Field. Last year's team would have perhaps tun the table in the regular season as that great 2012 Miner Team that went to 13-1 losing to Scecina on a 4th and inches in overtime going for the win. In fact I think both the 2017 and 2018 Miner teams would have run that regular season unbeaten. But that's not what anyone wants really----blow out games week in and out and having a sense of being better than you migh be... only to be handed your hat when you run into a team who matches up. BUt I also think you can kill a program...you can start the eroding process if not careful about it. Losing brings out all the snakes, the finger-pointers and second guessers. Kids get discouraged, kids lose interest in putting in the offseason or even in-season work. Kids who used to just want to be part of it...who didn't really see much game time... they fall off. depth becomes a danger spot... injuries become more frequent because of poor prep....and it always seems the injuries are worse. I don't see Linton falling to such extreme low by any means in the near future... but I can see that if we give ourselves a schedule of facing very tough competition every week, and most of them bigger schools... and start having 4-5, 3-6 type seasons... it will have an effect on the over-all program. I know it's all designed to be prepared for the level of Post -season. I got that part. I'm all for that, but I think you gotta maintain some of the games that spark the people too...and that means keeping those games that will bring people out.. and will fire your kids up because they play these kids from other local areas all through grade school and in other sports. and they have to play well because ND, NK and Eastern have all had good teams at times in the last 10-15 years. OK... My diatribe is over....

LInton has enjoyed playing Southridge the last two years starting the season... course... we've lost both time plus another meeting in post-season... but will this new alignment possibly end our series?

I have done many a radio broadcast of a 75-0 score in the 3rd quarter.. then a running clock that basically is the JV and younger kids getting handful of plays and the game being over in 10 real minutes. I've also seen even more that were 45-6 at the half... and had to explain over and over that there are rules on 'quarters' for the young kids.. and it's hardly fair that a whole bunch of JV kids come in the game in 3rd and lose 2 quarters of their JV game, and then actually play 6-7 offensive plays and 6-7 defensive plays... and usually with groups of 5 rotating in and out every play. I know they love it though.. But I always think it would be nice to get some of the better JV kids some rotations with the starters. letting you JV Backfield get some reps with the starting line.. vice versa. Course we would have always done things such as getting some backups who aren't on JV in the game... getting guys reps on other positions as well. I think 30 point lead isn't enough to kick in a mercy rule. I've seen momentum switch on things like a special teams TD and a big run...and suddenly a 42 to 14 game whittles to a 42-35 game to the wire. I wonder if something could be done where if the margin is XX amount the quarter's rule is suspended so you aren't punished by bringing in the JV kids earlier..and let them play in the game with some starters.. .get some experience... and then naturally come the 4th the bench gets unloaded... plus if the margin in the 4th is XX amount... then start a running clock... but by then it's almost always JV playing anyway.

Gotta be tough for those kids who want to play football to have gone through the up and down yes or no stuff. Wasn't that long ago they were kinda making some noise with the passing game and a good QB... I would also think they would have some trouble getting long term commitments from opponents......

I would be willing to pay $20 a year mandatory to have this place to share and argue... But I'd hope that most of us would be donating at least that amount each year to help offset the costs that will only continue to rise year by year... I know TA's vision, and that there is loyalty to that idea... and it is cool that it's free and open to anyone to post at any time... even if that creates some drama sometimes.... but we all like a little drama! I just hope that anyone who can...makes the donations every year that easily clear the costs so we can keep this going on and on... seems like some years it's 4th and 2 in terms of donations... we need to keep the chains moving!!

Congrats to Dawson. I recall calling a Linton NC game when he was a freshman, and thinking he might the best of the Basinger brothers I had seen through the years. Linton didn't play NC his Junior and Senior year... but he put up some big numbers and helped take NC to new heights. As always.. I am pretty happy to see a 1A kid get state wide respect. I hope he can make some noise at ISU.

Definitely will miss you and your conversation and topics DT... Wish you the best on your future plans and westward travels! Thanks for all your input over all these years. Dan

THis seems a good place to place this story that I read online from a place in Texas. Not football...but I'm sure it registers with the football coaching profession as well": High School Coach Resigns Due to Parent Politics … And It’s Time to Say Something Out Loud After just a few months into her position as the head volleyball coach at Amarillo High School in Texas’ panhandle, Kori Clements has announced her resignation. Was it because of an unsuccessful season? Definitely not. The Sandies went 33-14 before losing in the regional semifinals. Was it unethical behavior? Some scandal or rules infraction? Nope. Not that either. Although, you can bet there will always be rumors. So what was it? What would cause Clements, an AHS grad who also won a national championship as a Nebraska Cornhusker, to resign from her alma mater after her first season at the helm? In a word: politics. In her statement, Clements explains, “I cannot and will not compromise the integrity of my decisions based on a parent’s political pressure or position. I believe strongly in the value of athletics, that being a part of a team is a privilege, and playing time is earned.” And all the coaches said, “AMEN.” Now we don’t know the whole story, or at least her whole story. But we do know this story of politics, parents, and pressure is not an isolated event. We’ve all watched our coaches deal with it. The emails, the complaints, the being cornered after a game, the late night emails and calls, the demands and threats from parents who think they know better than the coach whose job is literally on the line with every win and every loss. So parents, I write this to implore you: we’re losing good ones. Good coaches and good teachers are leaving the profession because it’s so hard to do it with integrity. I get it, your kid deserves to play. She has worked so hard, and if only that coach could see what you see. Listen, I know there are bad coaches in the world. I’ve played for some and I’ve worked with some. But the vast majority of coaches see our athletes much more clearly than we parents do. We love our kids so stinking much (not a bad thing) and we want the best for them (not a bad thing), but can’t we all admit that that big love might make us a little shortsighted? And can’t we also admit that fighting their battles is not what is best for them? You know what IS the best for them? Overcoming adversity. Working harder than everyone else. Getting better just for the sake of being better than they were yesterday. Learning to have hard conversations. Staying late at practice. Taking extra shots. Running extra sprints. Busting their tail in offseason. Failing. It’s hard, I know. And it’s even harder to put into practice. So let’s just commit to this one thing: Let your kid have the first conversation. Help prepare him/her for the conversation. A few good questions? How can I get better? What can I do at home? What are a few specific things I need to work on? And then let’s ask ourselves one thing: What’s my end goal for my kids?

More Homerisms... but I can't leave out my Miners...By the end of the year the offensive side of ball had 0 seniors on the field. And truly most all of the year there was but 1 senior on offense. Several seniors are going to be 3 year starters at their position, and the QB Goodman will have a year under his belt at QB as a junior. I look for the passing game to be a much bigger part with 6'2 senior Deyn Robertson at SE, and with Dyer, Howard and Lannan back in the backfield... a good balance will be key. We started 2 sophs and a freshman on the OL... so a year of building some muscle and experience should make them improved. Defensively we do lose 5 starters...and gonna have to be better in the pass coverage cause that killed us last year...everyone returns for the most part in the DB unit... but there's got to be improvement.. and some of that will be getting to the QB. We'll see.. it's unusual to have the concern on the D side in Linton.. but...there's some youth coming in that could fill those needs! BEing that we are pretty much gonna be 2A from here on out... we will have to climb that ladder again.. and the schedule is definitely a test.

I can't fathom why this would happen. Eastern has made the slow climb to respectability as to their Football program... I really only met Coach Wray once.. and that was in interviewing him pregame for the Linton/Eastern game last year... but I could tell he had a great relationship with the players.. and in years past was very enthusiastic.. .and seemed the logical fit to carry on the program. Yeah.. it would be something to think about when looking at the job. Surely those folks don't think a trip to state finals happens every year..... for most of us lol...

Wow?!? I sure did not see this coming. Was this in the Greene county daily world? I didn't see anything. Did he resign???

I wonder if Linton would ever consider the PAC... I think we turned down the WIC.. not sure... but PAC has teams more in our class... granted those trips to Heritage hills, South Spencer and Tell City would be monster hauls... I like the sound of it other than I'd hate to lose some long time rivals. Big 8 would prolly love to have SOuthridge, HH and Gibson Southern...

I can't imagine the Alices wanting to load their schedule with Reitz, Castle, Central, Memorial and Mater Dei. They had some down years bogged down playing the likes of TH South... and now they've gotten their program winning and getting kids out.... not sure the SIAC would help that cause, IMHO only